

Taking small Fish off the Line in the Water. 107 



To take a smaller fish off the line while in the 

 water, raise the rod as before and bring the fish 

 towards you moving down-stream, if necessary, 

 so as to have him always above you. Thus is he 

 sooner choked ; while the pressure of the current, 

 with you instead of against you, prevents undue 

 straining of the line, and very often frustrates any 

 attempt at a sudden bolt. Whenever he shows signs 

 of distress, by turning over on his side, then is the 

 time to seize hold of him in the water. With the 

 rod thrown back from the butt, bring the line 

 within your reach ; and, keeping the rod in the 

 right hand, slip the left as far as possible along 

 the line, placing what you have thus secured in 

 charge of the right, which, while still retaining its 

 hold, throws the slackened portion clear into the 

 water before the left intrusts it with any more. 

 This process is repeated as the trout is approached. 

 Should he make a sudden spring, the line is still 

 free to respond, the fish is still under command, and 

 the operation of "hauling in" has just to be begun 

 again. When the fish is within reach, the left 

 hand, while retaining the hold it has on the line 

 at the time, also takes possession of the rod and 

 sets free the right to seize the fish. Now, rest- 

 ing the rod on the left arm with the butt to the 

 body, transfer the trout to the left hand and remove 

 the hook with the right. Lastly, grasp the rod with 



